Vice President Of Finance, Legal, And Digitalization - Rocklin, Ca

At SMA America, we believe in Energy that Changes. Since 1981, SMA has been developing innovative solar technology with a purpose -- making the installation, operation, and maintenance of photovoltaic power plants simpler, more reliable, safer and more cost effective. In the meantime, we've also been collecting awards as a great place to work, providing growth opportunities to our employees, and challenging conventional thought.
Purpose of the position
As the Vice President of Finance, Legal, and Digitalization, you will serve as a strategic leader overseeing the finance, legal, process management, IT, and facilities management functions. This role is designed for an accomplished executive who will drive excellence in financial reporting, compliance, and Digitalization initiatives, bringing a unified approach to process management and technology solutions.
This position demands a strategic leader with a comprehensive understanding of financial management, legal compliance, digital transformation and leadership to drive innovation and efficiency across the business.
Furthermore, the Vice President of Finance, Legal, and Digitalization will serve as a member of the U.S. Management Team.
Primary duties / responsibilities
Finance Management and Controlling

• Lead the finance and controlling functions incl. tax to optimize financial performance and ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance financial controls, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
• Implement effective cost management and control strategies.
• Ensure and give direction for developing and implementing risk management strategies across finance, legal, and Digitalization.
• Support the Compliance Manager and Legal department in the realization of compliance with financial regulations, legal requirements, and cybersecurity standards.
• Mitigate legal and financial risks through proactive measures and steering the progress.
• Close cooperation with finance functions in SMA headquarter (shared services).

Legal Oversight

• Lead the legal and compliance function to provide strategic legal guidance, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with local and international laws and regulations as well as headquarter guidelines.
• Oversee contract negotiations, intellectual property management, and legal compliance initiatives.

Process Management

• Establish and enhance process management frameworks to optimize efficiency and effectiveness across the organization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline processes and improve overall organizational performance.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement across finance and legal functions.

IT Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for the IT function, ensuring alignment with business goals and objectives.
• Oversee the development and implementation of IT strategies, infrastructure, and digital transformation initiatives.

Digitalization

• Drive digitalization efforts across the organization by integrating technology solutions into business processes.
• Lead the identification and implementation of digital tools to enhance productivity and innovation.
• Drive innovation in digital processes and customer-facing solutions.

Facilities Management

• Oversee facilities management to ensure a safe and efficient working environment.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to optimize facility resources and support organizational needs.

• Other duties as may be required or assigned.

Required relevant professional experience (type / duration)

• Proven experience in senior leadership roles encompassing finance, legal, and Digitalization.
• Strong understanding of financial management, legal compliance, and digital transformation.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional collaboration and innovation.
• Advanced degree in Finance, Law, Business Administration, or a related field.

Other specialized skills

• Experience with an industrial company within a matrix function, preferably in a multifunctional environment within the renewable energy sector or similar industries.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills as well as emotional intelligence and demonstrated ability to motivate, build trust, gain support, and instill accountability in line with SMA's values and leadership principles.
• Excellent communication skills as well as intercultural competence
• Strong entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to roll up his or her sleeves and act with a problem-solving mindset.
• Proficiency in the English language, both written and verbal, is required.
• Basic skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) required.
• German and/or Spanish language skills are a plus.
• This position will require some domestic and international travel.

The salary range for this position is $162,000 - $225,000 annually.
Our EEO Policy
We are an equal opportunity employer and we make our employment decisions on the basis of merit and without regard to one's race, color, creed, sex (includes gender, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity, religion, marital status, age (over 40), national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability (includes HIV/Aids), medical condition (cancer, genetic characteristics), veteran's status, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by law.
In accordance with applicable law protecting qualified individuals with known disabilities, SMA will attempt to reasonably accommodate qualified applicants with known disabilities, unless doing so would create an undue hardship on SMA. Any qualified applicant with a disability who believes he or she requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job for which he or she is applying should identify the accommodation(s) needed in the application.
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